Beverage tray with drop wall

ABSTRACT

A nestable beverage tray includes a base and a first pair of opposed walls extending upward from the base and integrally molded with the base. A second pair of opposed walls extend upward from the base. At least one of the second pair of opposed walls is pivotably connected to the base, such that it can be selectively pivoted between an upright position and a retracted position. In a disclosed method, bottles shipped in the tray can be slid from the base directly onto a shelf, or alternatively, from the base onto the open wall and then onto the shelf.

BACKGROUND

Nestable beverage trays typically have side walls and end walls extending upward from a base. Handle openings are formed in the opposed end walls. Depending on the size of the bottles intended to be stored in the crate, the crate may hold a number of bottles. For single-serving size bottles, the tray typically stores 20-24 bottles.

Sometimes, a delivery person or stock person must remove the bottles from the crate and place them on a shelf for individual sale, such as in a refrigerator in the store.

SUMMARY

A nestable beverage tray includes a base and a first pair of opposed walls extending upward from the base and integrally molded with the base. A second pair of opposed walls extend upward from the base. At least one of the second pair of opposed walls is pivotably connected to the base, such that it can be selectively pivoted between an upright position and a retracted position. In a disclosed method, bottles shipped in the tray can be slid from the base directly onto a shelf, or alternatively, from the base onto the open wall and then onto the shelf.

This facilitates delivery and stocking of the bottles for the delivery or stock person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example beverage tray.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tray.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the tray.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the tray.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the tray.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tray with one of the side walls pivoted downward to the open position.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the tray of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the tray of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows one of the side walls of the tray.

FIG. 10 shows the tray without the side wall.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the tray.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the hinges.

FIG. 13 shows the tray loaded with a plurality of containers.

FIG. 14 shows the tray and bottles of FIG. 13 with one of the side walls pivoted down to the open 90 degree position.

FIG. 15 shows the tray and bottles of FIG. 13 with one of the side walls pivoted down to the open 180 degree position.

FIG. 16, the side wall is pivoted down 90 degrees where it abuts the edge of the shelf,

FIG. 17 is a side view of the tray with the bottles.

FIG. 18 is an end view of the tray and bottles with one of the side walls pivoted to the 90 degree open position.

FIG. 20 shows two of the trays, empty, with one nested within the other.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an alternate tray loaded with bottles.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of the hinges of the tray of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a tray 10 including a base 12 and side walls 14 extending upward from side edges of the base 12. End walls 16 (or short walls) extend upward from opposite ends of the base 12. The end walls 16 each include an upper band portion 18 and a lower portion 20. The lower portion 20 connects the upper band portion 18 to the base 12 and is spaced inward of the upper band portion 18, such that the lower portion 20 could be nested between the upper band portions 18 of an identical tray nested therebelow. The end walls 16 are integrally molded with the base 12 as a single molded piece of plastic. Handle openings are provided in each end wall 16.

Similarly, the side walls 14 each include an upper band portion 22 and a lower portion 24. The lower portion 24 connects the upper band portion 22 to the base 12 and is spaced inward of the upper band portion 22, such that the lower portion 24 could be nested between the upper band portions 22 of an identical tray nested therebelow. The side walls 14 are also hingeably connected to side edges of the base 12 by hinges 28. The upper band portion 22 of each side wall 14 includes an outer panel portion 30 and a plurality of ribs 32 projecting inward from the outer panel portion 30. Latches 34 selectively connect the side walls 14 to the end walls 16. The side walls 14 are each molded separately of plastic. Alternatively, one of the side walls 14 could be integrally molded with the base 12 and end walls 16.

When the tray 10 is empty, it can be nested in an identical tray 10. The lower portions 26 of the side walls 14 and the lower portions 20 of the end walls 16 are received between the upper band portions 22 of the side walls 14 and the upper portions 18 of the end walls 16, respectively. The hinges 28 of the upper tray 10 are received inward of the outer panel portion 30 between the ribs 32 of the lower tray 10. The ribs 32 of the lower tray 10 are received between the hinges 28 of the upper tray 10. Thus, the trays 10 occupy less volume when empty and nested.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tray 10. FIG. 3 is an end view of the tray 10. FIG. 4 is a top view of the tray 10. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the tray 10.

In FIG. 6, one of the side walls 14 is show pivoted downward 90 degrees to an open position generally parallel to and coplanar with the base 12, after releasing the latches 34. As shown, the lower portion 26 of the side wall 14, the outer panel portion 30 and the ribs 32 provide relatively flat surfaces for sliding containers out of the tray 10. The wall configuration also permits a single-thickness wall, which reduces the footprint of the tray 10.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the tray 10 of FIG. 6, showing the open side wall 14. FIG. 8 is a top view of the tray 10 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows one of the side walls 14 of the tray 10. The lower portion 26 of the side wall 14 includes a plurality of hinge pins 40, each held between two hinge arms 42 and protruding outward of the two hinge arms 42 slightly.

FIG. 10 shows the tray 10 without the side wall 14. The base 12 is integrally molded with the end walls 16. Side edges of the base 12 have integrally molded hinge receivers 46. Each hinge receiver 46 includes a snap arm 48 for receiving a hinge pin 40 (FIG. 9) snapped therebelow.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the tray 10, showing the base 12 with integral end walls 16 and the separately-formed side walls 14.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the hinges 28. As shown the hinge pins 40 are received below the snap arm 48 of the hinge receivers 46, with the hinge arms 42 on either side of the snap arm 48. The hinge receivers 46 do not protrude above the upper surface of the base 12. The hinge receivers 46 are the same height as the upper surface of the base 12. With the side wall 14 in the 90-degree open position shown, the hinge receivers 46 and upper surface of the base 12 are the same height as the inner surface of the lower portion 26 of the side wall 14 and the same height as the ribs 32 on the side wall 14. This provides a relatively flat, unimpeded surface across which the bottles 80 can slide.

FIG. 13 shows the tray 10 loaded with a plurality of containers, namely 250 mL plastic beverage bottles 80 (although other containers or other items could also be used). The bottles 80 are supported on the base 12 and held between the side walls 14 and the end walls 16. The latches 34 connect the side walls 14 to the end walls 16.

FIG. 14 shows the tray 10 and bottles 80 of FIG. 13 with one of the side walls 14 pivoted down to the open 90 degree position, after releasing the two latches 34.

As shown in FIG. 15, the side wall 14 can also be pivoted down 180 degrees, so that the base 12 can be placed abutting a shelf 82. Then, the bottles 80 can be slid off the base 12 and onto the shelf 82, such as for sale on a store shelf, such as a store refrigerator shelf 82.

In FIG. 16, the side wall 14 is pivoted down 90 degrees where it abuts the edge of the shelf 82. The bottles 80 can then be slid from the base 12, across the inner surface of the side wall 14 and then onto the shelf 82. The bottles 80 slide across the lower portion 26 and the ribs 32 of the upper band portion 22.

Alternatively, the tray 10 can be placed in a store refrigerator and after one of the side walls 14 is pivoted downward (90 or 180 degrees), the customers can select and remove bottles 80 directly from the tray 10.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the tray 10 with the bottles 80.

FIG. 18 is an end view of the tray 10 and bottles 80 with one of the side walls 14 pivoted to the 90 degree open position. FIG. 19 is a top view of the tray 10 and bottles 80 of FIG. 18. FIG. 20 shows two of the trays 10, empty, with one nested within the other.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an alternate tray 110 loaded with bottles 80. The tray 110 is generally identical to the tray 10 of FIGS. 1-20 with the exception that the end walls 116 (or short walls) are connected to the base 112 by hinges 128, while the side walls 114 (or long walls) are integrally molded with the base 112 as a single piece of plastic. FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of the hinges 128 of the tray 110 of FIG. 21. The hinges 128 may be the same as the hinges 28 in the tray 10 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the end walls 116 can be pivoted downward 90 degrees of 180 degrees so that bottles 80 can be slide off the base 112 onto a shelf.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A nestable beverage tray comprising: a base; a first pair of opposed walls extending upward from the base, wherein the first pair of opposed walls are integrally molded with the base; and a second pair of opposed walls extending upward from the base, wherein at least one of the second pair of opposed walls is pivotably connected to the base, such that the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls can be selectively pivoted between an upright position and a retracted position.
 2. The nestable beverage tray of claim 1 wherein the base is receivable between the first pair of opposed walls of a similar container when nested therein.
 3. The nestable beverage tray of claim 1 wherein both of the second pair of opposed walls are pivotably connected to the base.
 4. The nestable beverage tray of claim 1 further including at least one latch selectively securing the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls to at least one of the first pair of opposed walls.
 5. The nestable beverage tray of claim 1 wherein the first pair of opposed walls and the second pair of opposed walls include an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is offset inwardly relative to the upper portion such that the lower portion of the tray can be received within the upper portion of a similar tray.
 6. The nestable beverage tray of claim 5 wherein the upper portion of each wall includes an outer panel portion having a plurality of ribs projecting inward from an inner face of the outer panel portion.
 7. The nestable beverage tray of claim 6 further including hinges connecting the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls to the base.
 8. The nestable beverage tray of claim 7 wherein the hinges of the tray are receivable between the ribs of the similar tray when the tray is nested in the similar tray.
 9. The nestable beverage tray of claim 8 wherein the hinges each include a hinge pin and a hinge receiver.
 10. The nestable beverage tray of claim 9 wherein the hinge receivers are integrally molded with the base and substantially flush with an upper surface of the base.
 11. The nestable beverage tray of claim 10 wherein the lower portion of the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls is substantially flush with the base when the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls is pivoted to an open position substantially parallel to the base.
 12. A nestable beverage tray comprising: a base including an upper support surface for supporting beverage containers thereon; a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, wherein the end walls are integrally molded with the base; and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base, the side walls each including an upper band portion and a lower portion, the lower portion offset inwardly relative to the upper band portion, such that the lower portion of the tray could be received within the upper band portion of a similar tray, the side walls including a first side wall, the first side wall pivotably connected to the base, such that the first side wall can be selectively pivoted between an upright position and an open position.
 13. The nestable beverage tray of claim 12 further including hinges connecting the first side wall to the base, wherein the hinges and the first side wall are substantially flush with the upper support surface of the base when the first side wall is pivoted to a position substantially parallel to the base.
 14. A method for delivering bottles including the steps of: a) transporting to a position proximate a shelf the bottles in a tray having a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls including a first wall; b) pivoting the first wall downward to an open position; c) sliding the bottles from the base to the shelf.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said step c) further includes the step of sliding the bottles from the base onto the first wall and sliding the bottles from the first wall onto the shelf.
 16. The method of claim 14 further including the step of nesting the tray within a similar tray after said step d). 